Device for folding strips of fabric or the like.



J. J. SGHEFER.

DEVICE FOR FOLDING STRIPS OF FABRIC OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED IEIB.27, 1912.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. J. SOHEFER.

DEVICE FOR FOLDING STRIPS 0P FABRIC OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FERN, 1912.

1,088,456, Patented Feb. 24, 19M

l 1 MIZ IHIII Ia Emil UNTTlEU FTATFF PATENT @FFICE.

J'OHANN JAKOB SCHEFER, OF HERISAU, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOB TO THE FIRM OF RAPID A. G., OF ST. GALLEN, SWITZERLAND.

DEVICE F013, FOLDING STRIPS OF FABRIC OR THE LIKE.

Application filed February 27, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JorIANN Janos Sorrnrnn, a citizen of the Republic of Swit- Zerland, residing at Herisau, Switzerland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Folding Strips of Fabric 01' the like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had. to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a device for folding strips of fabric or the like, such as em broideries. As it is well known certain embroideries are produced by embroidery machines so that several parallel strips are connected by a common background. The strips thereafter are severed whereby the cut is either rectilinear or curved following the raised embroidery edge. Hereafter the strips are singly folded. Hitherto the folding was done by hand, folding the strip in the middle, folding thereafter the twofold strip again in the middle, and so on. This method takes much time and is not adapted to be used in connection with the modern machines for cutting embroidery which by their rapid working necessitate an accelerated folding.

According to my invention folds are drawn from the strip at least to one side. Thus the folding of the strip is performed by only one motion of a device operated either by hand or by power. After being folded in this manner the manifold strip may be folded in the middle. A strip folded in this way resembles a customary hand folded strip. As with the latter the two ends are close to gether. Any kind of strips, as laces and ribbons for instance may be folded in this manner.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 illustrates the working of the device. Fig. 2 shows a folded strip. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a hand operated device embodying one form of my invention, Figs. 4-, 5 and 6 are detail views. Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing a device operated by power embodying another form of my invention. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the same. Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

Serial No. 680,316.

9 is a detail View. Fig. 10 illustrates the working of the device shown in Figs. 79.

A strip 1 (Fig. 1) is loosely laid over a series of bars or pins 2. 3, A and 5. The end 1 of the strip is suitably secured in position. A second series of bars or pins 9, 10, and 11 and the bars 2, 3, A and 5 are moved relatively to each other so that folds 6, 7 and 8 shown in dotted lines (Fig. 1) are drawn between the bars 2, 3, 1 and 5. For instance by securing the bars 2, 3, A and 5 in position and lowering the bars 9, 10 and 11 the latter bars attain a position shown in dotted lines at 9, 10 and 11 By such folding of the strip the end 1 is brought to the level of the end 1 both ends being lower than the lowest parts of the folds 6, 7 and 8. The bars 9, 10 and 11 may be brought in the positions 9 10 and 11 either one after the other or all at the same time. Any suitable number of bars may be chosen. The folds could also be drawn simultaneously to two different sides, for instance by moving the bars 9, 10 and 11 downwardly while moving the bars 2, 3, A and 5 upwardly. Or firstly the bars 9, 10 and 11 and thereafter the bars 2, 3, 4: and 5 may be moved. The series of bars may be arranged in any suitable direction and any suitable direction of motion may be chosen.

The strip after being brought into the shape shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, is taken off from the bars and thereafter folded again in the middle so that it assumes about the form shown in Fig. 2.

The device illustrated in Figs. 3, 4c, 5 and 6 comprises a vertical board 12 to the upper part of which are secured bars 2, 3, 4L and 5 forming a rake. A pin 13 is fastened at one side of the board. A bench 14 is provided at the lower end of the board. A device may be placed on the bench to receive the folded strips which are to be bound. The bars 2, 3, A and 5 are provided with tubes or sleeves 16 mounted to turn on balls 15 (Fig. 6) to diminish the friction of the strip 1 on the bars when drawing the folds. Bars 9, 10 and 11 and another bar 17 are fixed to a backplate 18 provided with a handle 19 forming thus a movable rake. All bars may be exchangeably arranged.

The device operates as follows: The strip 1 is put on the bars 2 to 5 as described above,

and the movable rake is held over the strip 1 so that the bar 9 passes between the bars 2 and 3 when moving the rake downwardly. During this time the end 1 is secured in position. After the folds have attained the proper length the movable rake is taken out of the folds and the strip 1 removed from the bars 2-5 while remaining folded. By hanging the folded strip over the pin 13 it is folded again in the middle and brought into the shape shown in Fig. 2.

In the device shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 the fixed rake carries bars 2, 3, 4 and 5 and the movable rake 22 bars 9, 10 and 11. The bars are provided with tubes mounted to turn on balls as shown in Fig. 6. A support 36 is arranged at the side of the bar 9. The rake 22 is also provided with a rail 20 at the lower surface of which are fastened needles 21. Pillars 39 and 40 support the fixed rake and are mounted to vertically guide the movable rake 22. Motion is imparted to this latter rake from a main shaft 23 fixedly carrying a friction disk 25 which by lowering a pedal 24 can be brought in contact with the disk 26. In position of rest the foot lever 24 leans against the stop 38. The friction disk 26 is fixed to a pulley 27, loosely mounted on the shaft 23. A belt 28 passes over the pulley 27 and a pulley 29 at the top of the machine. The foot lever 24 is secured to a sleeve 42 loosely mounted on the shaft 23. By lowering the pedal 24 the sleeve 42 is pressed against the boss 43 of the pulley 27 so that the disk 26 is brought in contact with the disk 25 and the pulley 27 rotates. The rake 22 is secured to the belt 28 by screws 30. The rake is also fastened to a rope 31 passing over the pulley 32 and carrying a weight 33 guided in a hollow pillar 34 (Fig. 9). An elastic packing ring 33 is fastened at the lower end of the weight. A small perforation 35 is provided near the bottom of the pillar.

The device operates as follows: A strip 1 is laid on the support 36 and the bars 2, 3, 4 and 5 (Fig. 10). Then by lowering the pedal 24 the pulley is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 8. The belt 28 and the rake 22 are moved hereby in the direction of the arrows (Fig. 8). The needles 21 stick into the strip so that the end 1 follows the motion of the needles 21. The strip is folded in the above described manner by moving the bars 9, 10 and 11 into the positions 9*, 10 and 11 The downward motion of the rake 22 is bounded by a stop 41 adjustably secured to the rod 40. Before the strip 1 is taken from the rakes the pressure on the pedal is diminished for a short time, so that the rake 22 is raised for a small amount by the weight 33. The strip thereafter can easily be removed. By hanging the strip on an arm 37 it is folded in the middle (Fig. 7 By removing the pressure on the pedal 24 the rake 22 is raised by the weight 33 in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8 whereafter a new strip 1 can be folded in the described manner. The upward motion of the rake 22 is braked by compression of the air in the pillar 34 and stopped by a spring 44 on the movable rake moving against a projection on the fixed rake.

\Vhile I have thus described my invention, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details shown and described, as these might be varied widely without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a strip folder, a set of pins in fixed spaced relation adapted to support a strip to be folded, and a second set of pins also in fixed spaced relation adapted to engage said strip, the pins of one set arranged for bodily movement through the interspaces of the pins of the other set and substantially parallel to them in planes perpendicular to the planes of the pins.

2. In a strip folder, a set of pins in fixed spaced relation, a second set of pins also in fixed spaced relation and movable through the interspaces of the first set, and means movable with the second set to hold one end of the strip to be folded.

3. In a strip folder, a set of stationary pins mounted in fixed spaced relation, a second set of pins mounted in a carrier in fixed spaced relation for engaging a strip supported on the stationary pins, said second set of pins movable substantially parallel to the first set of pins adapted to move said strip through the interspaces of the first set in planes perpendicular to the planes of the pins.

4. In a strip folder, a rigid supporting member having a series of pins in fixed spaced relation, and a movable carrier having pins in fixed spaced relation for engaging a strip on the fixed pins, said pins of the carrier being movable through the interspaces of the stationary pins in planes perpendicular to the planes of the pins and to any extent, determined by the length of the fabric and the range of the machine, whereby the fabric may be folded any length on the same machine.

5. In a strip folder, a set of spaced pins in fixed relation to one another, a second set of similarly spaced pins also in fixed relation to one another, means to move the second set of pins between and past the first set of pins, and means to automatically return the second set of pins to normal position after their movement.

6. In a strip folder, a set of spaced pins in fixed relation to one another, a second set of similarly spaced pins also in fixed relanosaeae tion to one another, means to move the second set of pins between and past the first set of pins, and a counterweight to automatically return the second set of pins to normal position after their movement.

7. In a strip folder, a set of pins in fixed spaced relation, a second movable set of pins also in fixed spaced relation, means to move the second set of pins between and past the pins of the first set, and an air-cushioned counterweight to return said second set of pins to normal position.

8. In a strip folder, a stationary set of spaced pins, a movable set of similarly spaced pins, means to move said second set of pins, and means adjustable in the path of travel of said second set of pins to limit the extent of movement thereof, and thereby determine the length of the folds.

9. In a strip folder, a stationary set of spaced pins, a movable set of spaced pins, a belt to which the movable set is connected, a driving shaft, friction clutch mechanism to drive the belt from said shaft, and means to automatically return said movable set of pins to initial position upon disengagement of the friction clutch mechanism.

10. In a strip folder, a stationary set of spaced pins, a movable set of spaced pins, an endless belt to which said movable set is secured, a driving shaft, a friction disk secured to the shaft, a belt pulley loose on said shaft and having a friction face in operative relation to said disk, a foot lever for moving the pulley into engagement with the disk, an air-cushioned counter weight for returning said movable set to initial position, and means to assist the simultaneous folding of all the folds of the strip.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHANN JAKOB SCHEFER.

Witnesses EUGENE NABEL, ALBERT PHILLIPS.

Goples of this patent may be obtained for-five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

